February 18th – 21st, 2021

Riviera C.C., Pacific Palisades, California

Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,322

Purse: $9.3 million with $1,674,000 to the winner

Defending Champion: Adam Scott (site)

Favourite Watch: Whenever he tees it up these days Dustin Johnson starts favourite and he’s as low as 5/1 with several bookies.  Behind him it’s a star studded scramble between 10/1 and 12/1 with Rory, Rahm, JT and co.  There’s no value in this win only market this week on such a tight tough course.

Hit the most greens at Pebble last week on his way to T3 finish including a first round 62.  Add to that a solo 2nd at the American Express, a Riviera formline of T17, T15, T4 and Cantlay has to be on your betslip this week.  

After three decent cheques to start 2021 Max broke into the top-10 last week at Pebble and he’ll bring a lot of confidence home to Riviera this week.  A heckler shout on the final green cost him $300,000 last year (he finished T5) so might just get some golfing justice at a quieter event  this week.  

Rested since a T21 out in Saudi where he still impressed greatly with his short game.  The Sony winner has been 2nd, 3rd and T4 at Riviera over the past 10 years and has the steely game for this test that is as much mental as it is of skill.

The defending Champion is available at super odds of 35/1 this week.  Why is that?  After all he comes in rested.  Last time out he placed T10 at The Farmers.  Last year’s Riviera win was also his sixth top-10 at the venue making him among THE most consistent performers EVER here.  A no brainer for an each way squeak.

Impressing me greatly of late with top 20’s at the Farmers and in Phoenix then an excellent T7 last week at Pebble.  A look through his stats show some brilliant work with his irons and that’s just what is needed this week.  Best of T8 here four years ago and I expect him to be up there again this week.

Charley Hoffman is 125/1 this week.  After withdrawing from a couple of events and missing the cut in Phoenix he played really well at Pebble last week.  Super streaky and knows how to contend.  Worth watching.

I see Vaughn Taylor at 250/1 this week.  He played well last week at Pebble and always does well at Riviera. T13, T9, T20 from 2020 to 2018.

Russell Knox is 150/1. He topped the GIR numbers last week and we all know what a great putter he is.

Matthew NeSmith is 150/1. Debutant but totally overpriced given current form.